Epson’s PaperLab A-8000 dry-process*1 office papermaking system and WorkForce ET-4750 inkjet printer have been selected to join the list of the Good Design Best 100 with PaperLab also taking out the Good Design Gold Award (METI Minister Award). The Gold award is presented to the design judged by the Good Design Award Judging Committee to be particularly outstanding among the Good Design Best 100, which are selected from all 2017 Good Design Award recipients (4,495 entries). The winner is selected based on a comprehensive evaluation of criteria including the design’s potential as a solution for social issues, future applicability, and level of completion.

Kazuhiro Ichikawa, executive officer and deputy general administrative manager, Corporate Research & Development Division, involved in the development of the PaperLab A-8000 says, “It is a great honour to receive such a highly regarded award. I think this is recognition of the PaperLab A-8000’s concept to “change the future of paper.” As a communications tool, paper has universal value in that it is easily comprehensible, easily visible, and easily portable. At the same time, paper creates an environmental and confidentiality management burden, meaning that some concerns come with its use. By applying dry fibre technology, Epson is proposing the A-8000 as the world’s first*2 office papermaking system that enables the processing and creation of paper locally, in the amount you need and when you need it. Epson is committed to promoting a zero-waste society.”

Good Design Awards celebrate designs that benefit and enrich our lives and society. In 2017 Epson won Good Design Awards for a total of seven products, including two projectors, four printers, and the office papermaking system, but only the most notable or significant designs make it to the Best 100 list. Designs that made it into the Best 100 will be displayed at Good Design Exhibition 2017 (“G Exhibition”), held from 1-5 November at various sites in Tokyo. The Best 100 are also eligible for the Good Design Grand Award, Good Design Gold Award, and Good Design Special Awards. Winners of these awards were announced on 1 November 2017.

Manabu Kawahara, general manager for design in Epson’s Printing Solutions Operations Division, says, “Our customers have praised our high-capacity ink tank printers because they can print as much as they need to without worrying about the cost. We paid meticulous attention to the appearance and usability of the WorkForce ET-4750 inkjet printer. As the next generation of ink tank printer, this printer offers more than just great value. It is compact, stylish, easy to use, and greatly reduces the frustration people feel when they run out of ink. We will continue to use printing to improve the quality of people’s life and work, and will develop printer designs for products that exceed customer expectations.”

This A4 inkjet multifunction printer features large ink tanks, and boasts high productivity and cost efficiency. The ink tanks and ink bottles are designed to make refills clean and quick, and the printer is intuitive and easy to navigate. The tank is in the front, which improves accessibility and makes it easier for you to check the ink level. Simply insert the ink bottle, and the mechanism automatically refills the tank to its full capacity. The tank juts out from the printer, showing its impressive capacity, and the simple, round shape of the casing expresses a robust durability that fits perfectly into any living space.

Judges’ Comments
Multifunction A4 inkjet printers with high-capacity ink tanks sharply dispelled users’ dissatisfaction with ink. Epson adopted high-capacity ink tank designs to address the routine out-of-ink issue and the issue of expensive ink cartridges. The ink tanks are positioned in the front of the printers. The shape and colour of the ink tank unit are unobtrusive, and the unit blends well with the rest of the printer. The tanks are easy to fill, and you can tell at a glance how much ink remains. The design is both beautiful and functional. In addition, the design of the ink bottle spout and ink tank inlet are unique for each colour to prevent misfilling. No compromises were made with the design of the ink bottles. An auto-stop mechanism prevents ink from leaking when a bottle is removed from the tank, even when the nozzle is pointing downward, so there are no spills. We also appreciated the exquisitely designed adjustable control panel, the printer’s soft curves, and the smooth, clean appearance.

The PaperLab A-8000 is the first*2 office papermaking system to employ a dry process to securely destroy used documents and produce new sheets of paper. Epson’s dry fibre technology enables paper to be produced without the huge volumes of water that ordinary papermaking requires. Since no plumbing is needed, the PaperLab can be installed in a back office or anywhere else with available space to upcycle used paper. The PaperLab is changing office operations by increasing information security, producing paper of various weights and sizes, and reducing users’ environmental impacts.

Judges’ Comments
There is a lot of discussion about the use of paperless processes. The PaperLab is a truly outstanding solution as one answer to the question about future paper use. The fact that you can recycle used paper right in the office and thus increase information security is particularly praiseworthy.

Good Design Awards
The Good Design Award is a comprehensive design-promotion system that picks good design out of a variety of unfolding phenomena. It is hosted by the Japan Institute for Design Promotion, a public interest incorporated foundation. It’s precursor, the Good Design Selection System (or G Mark System), was founded in 1957 by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (the current Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), and has been engaged in this work for about 60 years.

*1 A small amount of water is used to maintain a certain level of humidity inside the system.
*2 PaperLab is the first office papermaking system to use a dry process, per Epson research conducted in November 2016.